Provider Screening, Enrollment & Credentialing

1. March 2025-Providers Must Complete Credentialing Before Providing Care: This memo reminds providers about the obligation to complete the screening/credentialing process though our office before providing services to BHS clients. As an additional reminder, providers cannot obtain reimbursement for services if they have not successfully completed screening/credentialing Compliance-Memo-Credentialing-and-Service-Disallowances
2. May 2025-Taxonomy Updates from DHCS - Action Required Before June 16, 2025: This memo communicates DHCS' updated list of reimbursable Taxonomy Codes for SMHS and DMC-ODS. All providers should compare their current Taxonomy Code to this list and, if needed, update their Taxonomy Code on the NPPES website. Every agency will document any changes on the Excel file included here -- and then submit that Excel file to credentialing@sfdph.org. Memo for Taxonomy Update Project (with Slides, Tools, and Source Materials), BHS-Staff-Roster (for Taxonomy Update Project, May 2025), BHS' Short-List of Taxonomies for 2025
   For a walkthrough of how to make these Taxonomy Code changes on the NPPES Website, please see our short demonstration video on the BHS Vimeo channel.
3. May 2026-Updates to Website, Forms & Staff Roster: This memo communicates updates to this page and materials to align with the BHS-SUS transition from the Avatar electronic health record to Epic. The memo reminds everyone that services cannot be reimbursed or claimed if provided by a staff member who has not correctly completed the screening/credentialing process. Updates to Website, Forms & Staff Roster
4. May 2026-Requests for DHCS Professional Licensing Waivers (PLW): please send an email to Teresita Francisco (teresita.francisco@sfdph.org) to request and/or submit the PLW form to DHCS.
5. May 2026-the DMC ODS program does not allow Registered Psychologists to provide services/obtain reimbursement: we have obtained information from Orange County stating that the DMC-ODS program does not include Registered Psychologists as a provider type. Per the clarification from Orange County, these individuals would need to be screened/credentialed as either AOD Counselors or Other Qualified Provider (No Registered Psychologist role in DMC-ODS)

Updated 5/19/2026 - We are asking every agency to review the staff roster monthly to improve.

• BHS Staff Roster - 05-19-2026

Guidance to Remediate Problems with Staff Roster:

(1) Identify staff who should appear on the list, but are missing (if they are missing, you should send an email to request initial credentialing).

(2) identify staff who should not appear on the list, but are present (if they appear, you should send an update form for separation)

(3) if you have a staff member who did not respond to the 3-year recredentialing email reminder (from "noreply@sfdph.org" with a subject line, "Recredentialing application") then have the staff open that email, and click the URL that takes them to the recredentialing application. If the staff member cannot find the email - then they could log into www.mdapp.com/sfdph and they can access their recredentialing application. When the user gets to the San Francisco Health Network MDApp screen, there is an option for them to obtain their password if they forgot.

Updated 05/19/2026 - Any individual who provides direct treatment, care and/or support to clients must complete this process - regardless if you bill for services. Clinical supervisors must also complete this process, even if they are not providing direct care.

Reminder for NPPES/NPI/Taxonomy: before you send an email to request initial screening/credentialing, you need update your NPPES/NPI record with a reimbursable Taxonomy Code for SMHS/DMC-ODS (SMHS/ODS Reimbursable Taxonomy Code - BHS Memo). This is required for BHS Billing.

Reminder for DHCS PAVE Enrollment: if you are a Provider Type that is required to enroll in PAVE, then you must complete that and submit evidence to BHS Compliance. This is required for DHCS reimbursement. Our office cannot provide technical assistance or direction for this external system.

Reminder for Medicare Part B Enrollment: if you are a Provider Type that is eligible to be reimbursed for Medicare Part B, then you should complete that and submit evidence to BHS Compliance. Our office cannot provide technical assistance or direction for this external system.

1. All Providers (Mental Health and Substance): Send an email to credentialing@sfdph.org from your agency email account. 
   1. For the subject line, make sure to specify if you are Mental Health or Substance Use program (e.g., “requesting Credentialing for Mental Health" or "requesting Credentialing for Substance Use”)
   2. For the body of the email, include the following:
      1. Your legal name as it appears on your professional license, certification, etc. 
      2. Your NPI number and the taxonomy code and label
      3. Your license/registration number issued by the Board (e.g., BBS)
      4. Your program/clinic/agency name (e.g., South of Market Mental Health Clinic)
      5. The type of application you need:
         1. Application for Physician (MD/DO)
         2. Application for Alcohol or Other Drug (AOD) Counselor (both Registered and/or fully Certified)
         3. Application for Social Work, Marriage Family Therapist, Professional Clinical Counselor (both BBS-Registered and/or fully Licensed) 
         4. Application for Psychologist (including Registered, Waivered and/or fully Licensed) 
         5. Application for Nurse Practitioner
         6. Application for Registered Nurse, Vocational Nurse, Psychiatric Technician, and/or Pharmacist
         7. Application for Certified Peer Support Specialist
         8. Application for Unlicensed Staff Who Are Other Qualified Provider (formerly called MHW)
         9. Application for Unlicensed Staff Who Are MHRS (only for SMHS - no ODS)
         10. Application for Unlicensed Staff Who Are Clinical Trainees (specify Social Work, MFT, Professional Clinical Counselor, Psychologist, OT, LVN, RN, Psychiatric Tech, CNS, NP, Physician Assistant, Medical Student-Clerkship, Psychiatry Resident)
   3. Send the email and then monitor your email inbox (and spam folder) for an email from noreply@sfdph.org.
   4. Open the email and follow the instructions - - you will be taken to the online credentialing system and you will complete the application process.
   5. Approximately 5-7 business days after you submit the application, you will receive an email from BHS Compliance with the outcome of the credentialing process. 
   6. As soon as you send the email to request credentialing - - you can move to the next phase and visit DPH Onboarding Webpage” to request a POI number and submit an onboarding request

Updated 05/19/2026 - Screening is required for individuals who provide administrative functions within SMHS/DMC-ODS Medi-Cal programs (e.g., clerks, quality assurance, billing staff, etc.). "Screening" means checking required databases and lists (e.g., OIG Exclusion List, DHCS Suspended & Ineligible List, Death Master File, etc.).

Reminder for NPPES/NPI/Taxonomy: before you send an email to request initial Screening Only, you need update your NPPES/NPI record (see the Memo posted at the top of the page for "Taxonomy Updates"). This is required for BHS Billing.

1. All Providers (Mental Health and Substance): Send an email to credentialing@sfdph.org from your agency email account. 
   1. For the subject line, make sure to specify if you are Mental Health or Substance Use program (e.g., “requesting Admin Screening for Mental Health" or "requesting Admin Screening for Substance Use”) 
   2. For the body of the email, include the following (as appropriate):
      1. Your legal name 
      2. Your NPI number and the taxonomy code and label
      3. Your program/clinic/agency name (e.g., South of Market Mental Health Clinic)
      4. If you have a license/registration/certificate, then provide that information as well. Note
      5. Note - if you need to access Epic, then you need to complete their DPH Onboarding process as well.

Updated 05/19/2026 - BHS collaborates with our Managed Care Organizations to implement some of their benefits -- including DHCS Medicaid Managed Care Organization Community Supports and DHCS Medicaid Managed Care Organization Enhanced Care Management.

The staff who lead and/or deliver Managed Care Community Supports and ECM must complete the screening process through BHS Compliance. "Screening" means checking required databases and lists (e.g., OIG Exclusion List, DHCS Suspended & Ineligible List, Death Master File, etc.).

1. All Individuals who lead and/or deliver Managed Care services: Send an email to credentialing@sfdph.org from your agency email account.
   1. For the subject line, make sure to specify you are a Managed Care program (e.g., “requesting Managed Care Program Screening")
   2. For the body of the email, include the following (as appropriate):
      1. Your legal name
      2. Your NPI number and the taxonomy code and label
      3. Your program/clinic/agency name (e.g., South of Market Mental Health Clinic)
      4. If you have a license/registration/certificate, then provide that information as well. Note
      5. Note - if you need to access Epic, then you need to complete their DPH Onboarding process as well.

Updated 05/19/2026 - Every individual is responsible for ensuring their Screening/Credentialing Record is current and correct (any changes to your personal identity, professional identity and/or your organizational identity). Individuals who are separating from their agency also use this form.

Reminder for NPPES/NPI/Taxonomy: if the change you are requesting impacts your Provider Type, make sure your Taxonomy Code is updated (see the Memo posted at the top of the page for "Taxonomy Updates"). This is required for BHS Billing.

1. All Individuals (SMHS, DMC-ODS, Managed Care):
   1. Fully complete the Behavioral Health "Request to Update/Change Screening/Credentialing Record" form
   2. Send an email to credentialing@sfdph.org from your agency email account. 
   3. For the subject line, use “requesting update to ScreeningCredentialing Record” 
      1. For the body of the email, describe the changes you are requesting on the form.
   4. Attach the Update Request form along with any relevant documents (e.g., new license/registration/certificate, screenshot of NPI record, etc.).

For individuals who are separating from their agency - if you are moving to another County/Contractor clinic, let us know that information on the separation form. When you request credentialing (at your new clinic), we have a process that is quick and easy to "reactivate" your account.

1. Enter your name, NPI number and your email address into our Webform
2. Monitor your email inbox (and spam folder) for an email from noreply@sfdph.org
3. Open the email and follow the instructions - - you will be taken to the online credentialing system and you will complete the application process.
   1. Within 60 calendar days of submitting the application, you will receive an email from a staff member in the PPN with the outcome of the credentialing process. In addition, the PPN office will also send this information via postal mail.

BHS will be implementing the Certified Peer Support Specialist benefit within SMHS and DMC-ODS.

We have created a presentation that can help Peer Support Specialists to complete the credentialing process (and also, help QM/Compliance staff who provide assistance): BHS Compliance Training - Credentialing for DHCS Certified Peer Support Specialists